Blogger's Challenge 2015/16

For those not yet aware of the above competition, Russel Hilton put forward the idea to George Burton that it might be a good idea to run something along the lines of those challenges the Coventry lads used to take part in some years back now. They were good fun, let me tell you. I made a lot of good friends because of them and so I guess did everyone else. The two I enjoyed the most were the percentage of record weight challenge; a simple idea but one that drove everyone involved to break multiple personal bests. Such was the drive to get out and do well that I broke eight, and bettered some of those over and over, once three times in the same day with consecutive crucians!

The second was the earlier challenge where a handful of us set out to achieve the record weight with multiple captures, so a fifteen pound tench would require an easily achievable four or five middling fish in the same session, yet a record weight zander would require the almost impossible task of two doubles in the same day, three 7 pounders, 5 and a half 4 pounders, or a very big catch of schoolies. No one achieved even half the total catch required to match the record for that particular species. Nevertheless, we all gave it our best.

Russel and George consulted me about their ideas. Of course, I got involved up to the hilt in its creation because I was really interested in the split between venue types and what that might mean in terms of competitive advantage and handicap. So, tench for instance (and all species, of course) are split between canal, river/drain, and stillwater with scores for each — one point for every percentage point of the record — and an aggregate overall total score

Of course, still water captures are going dominate the gross points for that species but catch a single river tench and any advantage gained by someone camping out for a really big fish at a lake will be reduced substantially but then go catch a canal specimen too and it might be brought to nought. I like that dynamic. It is a leveller of advantages and a punisher of lazinesses.

My favourite dynamic, though, is the ten point bonus for largest fish of each species in each category. So, if two competitors are fighting the tench corner and one gets largest still water fish but the other gets largest canal and river fish, then not only is the points advantage gained by a really huge still water specimen reduced, but the second competitor may actually win the tench category outright on a lesser percentage points total but greater bonus points.

To be honest I don't quite know what the bonus system might produce. Without prior experience who could? But I do like the idea of a wild card that can make or break things, and especially during the end game of the competition when things can tend toward stalemate with a clear winner and his runners up emerging long before close of play.

With ten points available here and there and everywhere across the board then things should become very interesting indeed at that time. Early on, a mere ten points is nowhere near the 50 to 70 that can be gained by catching a very large specimen. But late on it's very hard to make an extra ounce over or even under other captures. When only one or two point advantages can be gained for beating someone by an ounce or two, ten can be gained by adventurous fishing in another more trying category and nailing best fish!

The leader board sheet of the spreadsheet computes all the scores, adds and subtracts bonus points automatically too, and all from simple weight data entered by competitors. There's leader boards for all the venue types as well, so no doubt there will be sub-competitions going on.

I love it!!

From prior experience I know I'll never become overall champion

But, 'King of the Cut?'

I wouldn't mind that at all.


There's eleven anglers already signed up and raring to go come Mayday. So, if you're interested in becoming involved too, then find out more and get in touch with Russel, here ~

Blogger's Challenge 2015/16